Can-closing machine



C. E. ENNES.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

-APPL|cAT|on FILED Aue. 13. 1918.

yPatented Mahl, 1921.

1o SHEETS-SHEET 1.

malaga@ A TTOR NEY N. l/IV VENTOR lC. E. ENNES.

CAN, cLoslNG MAcHmE.

` APPLICATION FILED AUG-13, |918- 1 ,369 ,920. Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

c. E. ENNES. CAN CLOSING MACHINE.l

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1.3.4918.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 3- C. E. ENNES.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I, 1918. 1,369,920.

IIII'u /N VEN ma wwwwam.Y ci? Afro/:Nev

C. E. ENNES. CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 13, |918.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

l0 SHEETSTSHEET 5.

. Mm w@ ,W w w. 6. w

A TTORNE Y C. E. ENNES.

CAN CLOSING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue. 13, 191s.-

Patented Mar. 1, 192kt v 1b SHEETS-SHEET 1.

//v VEA/ro@ SIMM C. E. ENNES.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPucATlon FILED AuG.13. 191s.

Patented Mar. 1,1921.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

if? Y mw W a, 4. 1 .T .9 Mam C. E. ENNES.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE. APPLlcATloN FILED Aus. 13, ma.

Patented MaI-.1,1921. y

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 9 IN VN 701e C.l E. ENNES.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. I3, 1918. v l 1,369,920. Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

10 SHEETS-.SHEET l0..

CHARLES E. ENNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLIQNI'OIS.

CAN-stesure MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.v l

' Application tiled August 13, 1918. Serial No. 249,643.4 f

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. ENNns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certainv new and useful 'g Improvements in Can- Closing Machines, of which the following is declared ,to be a full, clear, and exact description. v

This invention relates to can closing machines, and its primary object is to provide a can closing machine of improved construc tion for automatically feeding can. ends to the can bodies, and forming a double seam between the can ends and can bodies. Another object is to provide improved means for feeding filled can bodies to the seaming rolls and bringing them to a position of rest without danger of spilling any of the contents. Another object is to provide improved means for controlling the operation of the end feeding mechanism, whereby a can end will be fed from a stack of can ends each time a can body is fed to the seaming rolls. Another object is to provide means for bringing the can body and can end into operative positiony relative to the seaming rolls only when a can end has been fed into position upon a can body. Another object is to provideejecting means for can bodies that are conveyed to .the turret wheel, andnot acted upon by the seaming rolls, as is the case when no can end is fed to the can body. Another object is to provideva can closing machine of simple, practical and substantial construction, automatic in all of its operative parts.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set Jforth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, in which:

Figure l, is a central, vertical, cross section through part of a can closing machine embodying one form of the present invention, the line of section being indicated at l--l in Fig. 2; Fig. 2is a plan of the table, can conveyin parts, the main drive shaft bein shown in section taken on the line 2--2 in ig. 1, and the parts thereabove being omitted from the view; Fig. 3, is a plan of the can end feeding mechanism and turret wheel, the main drive shaft being illustrated in section, and the line of vsection being indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 4; Fig. 4, isa vertical section through mechanism and associated` line 4 4 of Fig. 3; ig'. 5, is a plan of the Patented Mar. 1, '1921.

can body lifting mechanism which brings thecan bodies and can ends into operative position .relatlve tov the seaming rolls, the mam drlve vshaft being shown in section,

4and the line vof section being indicated at 5-T5 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, is a plan of' a plunger raising cam shoe and one can ejector showing the shoe in retracted or inoperative position, and the ejector in operative position to eject a can which has not been acted on by the first seaming rolls; Fig. 7, is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the can' body raising mechanism and ejecting mechanism, the line of section lbeing indicated at 7-7 in Fig. .2; Fig. 8, is a detail plan of a` fragment of a cam shoe driving gear wheel; Fig. 9 is a detail section taken `on line 9--9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a certain toggle link tri tion being in icated at 10--10 in Fig. 5; Fig. 11, is a plan of a certain Geneva stop movement for intermittently rotating the turret wheel, the main drive shaft being shown in section and the line of section being indicated at 11-11 in Fig. 1; Fig.' 12, is a view partly in vertical section and mechanism, ,the line of secpartly in elevation of the `turret wheel and Fig. 16, is a plan of the seamin heads and,

seaming roll mechanism; Fig. 1 is a detail vertical section of one of the seaming heads a detail plan of one of the seaming heads; Fig. 19, is a view .of one of the seaming heads looking from below; Fig. 20, is a detail cross section through one of the seaming heads, taken on line- 20-20 of Fig. 18; Fig. 21, is a view of a fragment of the turret wheel looking from below and showing one of the can body locking mechanisins; Fig. 22, is a plan of two can holding 'jaws and the means for retracting the jaws from a can; Fig. 23, is a detail, vertical section illustratin the can` holding jaw actuating -mechamsm, the line of section taken on line 17--17 of Fig. 16; Fig. 18,*is l being indicated at 23-23 in Fig.' 21; Fig. 24, is a detail view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the can end lifting mechanism and certain members ofthe control mechanism for the can body raising shoes, the line of section being indicated at 24-24 in Fig. 3; Fig. 25, is a plan of a fragment of the can end feed mechanism;

Fig.- 26, is a detail cross section of the can end feed mechanism taken on the line 26-26 of Fig. 3; F ig. 27, is a detail cross section taken on line 27-27 of Fig. 25; Fig. 28, is a detail, longitudinal section taken on line 28-28 of Fig. 25; Fig. 29, is an end view of the feed slide 'guide seen inFig. 25; Fig. 30, is a detail, vertical section taken on line 30A-30 of Fig. 23; Fig. 31, is a detail ver.

tical section taken on line 31-31 of Fig.'21; Fig. 32, is a detail view, partly in side elevation and; partly in vertical section, of the can end lifter, and a fragment of the can end feed mechanism, the line of section being indicated at 32-32 in Fig. 3; Fig. 33, 'is a detail cross section taken on. line 33-33 of Fig. 32; Fig. 34, -is a detail, vertical cross section of, a certain can end chuck taken on line 34--34 of Fig. 4'3, and Fig.

f rolls, a turret wheel for movingt ecans from a first seaming head to a second one, control mechanism for the can end feed mechanism, control mechanism for the can body raising mechanism, can lejecting mechanism, gearing and operative connecvtlons operated from a single main driving shaft. I vshall proceedto describe each of these instrumentalities in detail.

As illustrated in the drawings, the machine is capable of operating on four cans at a time; that is, two first seaming heads are shown, which may operate on two cans at` a time, and two second seaming heads are shown which may operate on two cans at a time. Inasmuch as the vmechanism for handling the cans on one side of the machine is ysubstantially the same as that of those for handling the cans on theother side of the machine, I shall describe only one set of mechanism in detail, and refer generally to the other set.

The frame and dri/ve shafts.

bracket 38, which is bolted to the frame 37,

the upper end of the drive shaft 40, is journaled in a bearing 44, which is supported by a hood or cover 45,- that rests upon the table and is bolted thereto.

The can body 'con/vegen The can body conveyer is the form of a chain 46, which is trained around sprocket wheels 47, 48, -faston shafts 49,50. The

chain 46, has horizontal fingersll, upon certain ofy its links which fingers are spaced equidistance apart, andy engage lthe can bodies and propel them between guide rails 52, 53, toa turret wheel 70. Any suitable form of conveyin mechanism may be employed for delivering the cans into the path of the fingers 51, in timed relation thereto. The shaft 49, extends down below the table and is journaled in a bearing 54 (see Fig. 5) secured to theframe 37. The shaft 49, is driven from the sleeve 43, -by gearing which may comprise a pinion 55, keyed to the sleeve 43, a gear wheel .56, rotativel mounted on the bracket 38, and in mes with the pinion 55, sprocket wheels 57,'58, one mounted on the shaft of the gear wheel 56, and one mounted on a shaft 59, journaled in the bearing bracket 54, a sprocket chain 60,v trained around said sprocket wheels' 57, 58, and pinions 61, 62, one fast lon the shaft 59, and ythe other fast on the conveyer chain shaft 49. In the arrangement of the parts illustrated the ratio of the gearing between the main drive shaft and conveyer chain/46, is such that each ofthe can conveyer fingers 51, moves through 4a distance equal to the distance between them, during each cycle of operation of the machine thereby conveying a can to the turret` wheel 7 0,' in timed relation thereto.

Operating in conjunction with the fingers ofthe conveyer chain 46, is an arm 63, which acts to move the can bodies into the locking jaws of the turret wheel at the first seaming position.' Said arm 63, moves in timed relation with the fingers 51, and engages the can body While the conveyer chain lis propelling it toward the turret wheel and moves the can body along a curved line from the straight line of movement (given it by the conveyer chain) into the jaws of the turret wheel. In the form shown, the arm 63, is rotatively mounted on a bracket 64, bolted to the table and is driven fron the shaft of the sprocket wheel 48, by a sprocket chain 65, trained aroundr sprocket ,wheels 66, 67, fast on the shafts of the sprocket wheel 48, and arm 63, respectively. Preferably, the end of the arm 63, is provided with a, roller The 17u/wet wheel.

Rotatively mounted on .the table 36, is the 'turret wheel 70, which moves the cans from the irst seaming rolls to the second seaming rolls. Said turret wheel has a 'hub 71, which surrounds the drive 'shaft 40, and extends down through the table, which is formed with a bearlng 72, for the reception of the hub 71. The latter is shouldered near its upper end and the shoulder rests on the table. The turret wheel is intermittently rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon in Fig. 2, in timed relation with the conveyer fingers 51, and other oper` ative parts of the machine and the mecha nism for intermittently rotating 'the turret wheel comprises a Geneva stop movement wheel 73 (see also Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive) and a Geneva Agear wheel 74, which is` journaled on a stud shaft 75, secured ina 4 around the can bodles comprises a bell crank plunger guiding bracket 76, below the table 36, and' connected thereto by the bearing member 72. The Geneva wheel 73, is secured lto the lower end of the turret hub 71, and contains four slots 77 which radiate out from its axis, in which slots travels a crank in or rollers 7 8, that is'mounted on the eneva gear wheel 74. Said gear wheel 74, has an accurate hub portion 79, secured to it, which cooperates with rentrant accurate notches 80, in the periphery of the Geneva wheel 73, to positively hold the turret wheel stationary during its interval of rest. Once during each cycle of rotation of the gear wheel 74, the roller 78, enters one of the slots 77, of the Geneva,` wheel, and rotates it through an arc of ninety degrees, thereby moving the can locking jaws of the turret wheel from one set of seaming rolls to the next set. The gear wheel 74, meshes with a pinion 81, at the upper end of the sleeve 43, and receives its motion therefrom.

The turret wheel is formed with a plural.- ity of can receiving 'openings which are equally disposed around its periphery, four' being illustrated, and said openings are arcuate in form. Guided to move in sald openings are can locking jaws 82 (see also Figs.

21 and 22) which, after a can body has been placed between the jaws, are moved around the cany body to lock it to the turret wheel.

Said loclq'lng jaws are of arcuate formation and when in open position occupy practically a semicircle whereby a can body may be readily slid into the semicircular opening between the jaws. To the inner end of each wheel lagainst lateral displacement.

jaw 32, is pivotally secured a jaw actuating link 83, both links being pivotally connected together by a-pin upon which is mounted a jaw actuating roller 84. A slide block 85 is secured to the pivot pin of the roller 84, and is guided to move radially upon guide bars 86, secured to the underside ofthe turret wheel.l Movement of the roller 84 from the position shown ini full linesin Fig. 21, to that shown in dotted lines, causes the locking jaws to be moved from the` position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted. lines, where they lock the can to the turret jaws 82, are guided between guide plates 87, 88, secured to the upper and lower faces of the turret wheel. The guide plates are arcuate in form and have'arcu'ate ribs that guide the jaws in their' movements. For the purpose of holdin can bodies of different diameters removab e facings 89, may-be used on the 'aws 82, for which may be substituted` `others aving an internal radius correspond# ing with the radii of the can bodies to be operated on. These facings may be screwed or otherwise secured to the jaw blocks 82.

Thev means" shown for closing the-jaws lever 90,-pivotally supported on a bracket secured to the table. The upper arm of the bell crank lever 90, lies immediately behind the path of movement of the jawl actuating rollers'84, as they are carried around by the turret wheel, and to thel other arm of the bellr crank lever 90, is secured a push rod or bar 91, which is guided to move 1n a vertical direction by the bracket 7 6. Cams 92, carried by av plunger raising gear wheel 93, engage the lower end of the push rod 91, and lift it, thereby swinging the bell crank lever upward and outward away from the center of the shaft. The upper arm of the bell crank lever thereupon moves the roller 84, outward, thus moving the jaws 82,

around the can body. A spring 94, secured to the bell crank lever and underside of the table, operates to returnvthe bell crank lever back to normal position after theI cams 92 'pass the rod 91. It is` to be understood that there are four camsv 92, one for each set of jaws 82, and so disposed .on the gear wheel 93, as to actuate the bell crank lever 90, at

the first seaming station only, immediately V 1 after a can body has been, placed between the jaws by the conveyerchain 46 and arm 63.

The jaws remain clasped arounda can body until retracted afterthe second seam-4 ing operation has been performed or when retracted by mechanism which becomes effective for ejecting a can body upon which no can end has been placed by the can end feeding mechanism. The means for releasing a completed can fromthe jaws after the second seaming operation has been performed, may comprise a cam 95 (see Figs. 2, and 22) secured to the table 36, and 1ying in the path of movement of the rollers 84, when in their outer position; that is, the position in which the jaws are intheir clasping position.A The cam 95, has an in-A clined face vagainst which the rollers 84, may strike, when moved by the turret wheel; as they pass the cam 95, the lrollers 84, are forced toward the shaft thereby retracting the jaws. A discharge cam or guide rail 96, is secured to the'table 36,

`slightly beyond thekcam 95, in position to engage completed cans and deflect them' fromthe j aws 82. K

r The incomplete 0am ejector.

In case a can' end is not fed to a can body,-

. can ejecting lever 97 (see Figs. 2, 6, and 7) performed, the can is moved by the turret which is secured upon a vertical shaft 98, journaled in a downwardly projecting boss formed on the underside of the table. Said can ejecting lever 97, has one arm 99, which normally liesin thepath of movement of the cans as they are moved from the first seaming rolls to the second seaming rolls. This position of the lever 97 is seen in Fig. 2,'and at such times the lever is inactive. When a can moves past the arm 99, of the can ejecting lever 97, it swings said lever to the position shown in Fig. 6, where itsy end 100, is in position to engage the roller 84, of thenext set of jaws of the turret wheel. It will remain in this position nnlessa can end is fed to the can body held by the jaws at the first seaming position. If no can end is -fed to the can body, the roller 84,

strikes theend 100 ofthe ejecting lever, and

is forced back thereby retracting the jaws and releasing the can body.

Referring to Fig. 6, and assuming that the reference character a, indicates a can body at the first seaming position and that no can end has been fed to it, movement ofy the turret wheel in the direction of the arrow will first bring the jaw actuating roller 84, into engagement with the end 100 of the can ejecting lever, thereby releasing the can, whereupon the -continued rotation of the turret wheel brings the can body into engagement with the ejecting lever, as seen at @which arrests its movement and forces it out from between the jaws to the position seen at c, where it may be removed. When,

however, the can end is fed to the can body,l

and the first seaming operation has been wheel to the position seen at al, which is the second seaming position, during which time the can ejecting lever 97 is moved back out of the path of the roller 84, and can body.

The means for moving back the can ejecting lever 97, comprises l an arm 101 (see Figs. 5,` 6, and 7) which is connected to a second arm 102, by a hub 103, journaled upon a pin 104. A link 105, connects the arm 102, with an arm- 106, secured to the lower end of the shaft 98, of the can ejecting lever 97. When the lever 97 has been moved to active position (see Fig. 6) the tion in thepath of movement of the can body raising shoes 107, each of which travels in a path adjacent the periphery of the wheel 93, except when a can end has not been fed to a can body, in which case they arefmoved closer to the center of the wheel. When the shoev is in active position, it engages the endof the-arm 101, and moves it from the position shown in Fig. 6, to that shown in Figs. 5, and 2, thereby moving the can ejecting arm into inactive position out of the path of the roller 84, and can body, permitting the can to pass to the second seaming position.

The eaneml feed mechwnsm.

The can end feed mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3,'4, 24 to 35, inclusive. The can ends B, are arranged in a stack (see Fig. 4) and the stack isA supported on a cap lifter. 108, which is secured to the table 36, and which operates to normally hold the can -ends free of the feed slide as will appear later.' Extending in linel with the stack of arm 101, has thereby been moved to a posi- 9ark can ends and the first seaming position is a i i feed slidesupport and guide 109, in which is slidably guided a feed slide 110, Awhich is forked at one end, as shown, and the ends of the-forked portion are .adapted under cer# tain conditions, to engage the edge of the lowermost can end and feed it forward over the can body. Ways or grooves are provided in the guide member 109, for the feed slide to slide in. -The ide member 109, is supplorted by a bracket 111, which is secured e seaming head supporting spider 112. The bracket 111 is forked to provide two arms 113,- which are bolted to the guide member 109. The feed slide 110, is reciproi cated back and forth by a crank 114, mounted on the shaft of a sprocket wheel 115, which is driven from a sprocket wheel 116 (see Fig. 1) by a s rocket chain 117, trained around said sproc t wheels 115, 116. A link 118, connects the crank 114, with the feed slide 110, and in the operation of the machine one complete revolution of Athe sprocket wheel 115, moves the feed slide forward and backward once, therebyl feeding a cap end i(if the latter is in feeding position) .'which comprises two spaced parallel bars 120, carried at one end by a rod 121, having right and left screw threads thereon that engage with threads in ears 122, formed on the ends of the bars 120. The outer ends of the bars 120, have narrow extensions 123, that rest in slots formed at the forward ends of the guide member 109, and are supported thereby. The screw threaded connection between the rod 121, andl ears 122, of the chuck bars 120, afford means for adjusting said bars 120, toward or away from each other to accommodate can yends of large and small diameter. The rod 121, is rotatively mounted in a bracket 124, bolted to a horizontal web 125, formed on the hub 126, of the seaming head spider 112. Clamp nuts 127, threaded upon the outer ends of the rod 121, bear against the ends of the bracket- 124, and hold the rod in place therein.

The opposing edges of the bars 120, are grooved to form a continuation of the grooves in the guide member 109.v The can ends are slid through said grooves from the stack to the firstseaming position, and at said position rollers 128, are mounted above the grooves which temporarily hold the can end in lace. The rollers 128, are j ournaled in bloc s 129, which are mounted in the bars to move transversely thereof, and springs 130, interposed between the blocks and upstandidng lugs 131, on the bars 120, act to yieldingly hold the rollers v128, in position over the grooves. When a can end has been fed to the first seaming position. it is held between the rollers 128, and the bottom of the groove (see Fig. 34) and afterward forced upward by a can body. The springs 130, permit the rollers to be spread apart while the can end passes them.

y1`he can end lifter 108, comprises a stationary base member 132, secured to the table 36, through which extends a rock shaft 133. Above the base member 132, is a cam block 134, which is fiXedly secured to the rock shaft 133. Slidably and rotatively mounted on.the rock shaft 133, above the cam block 134, is a can end lifting member 135, whose lower face is engaged by the cam face of the cam block 134, and raised and lowered thereby when the cam block is rocked. rJlhe opposing faces or ends of the lifting member 135, and cam block 134, are inclined or oblique, and when the lifting member is lowered the two faces or ends lie flat against each other; when, however, the cam block is given a partial rotation, the oblique cam face causes the lifting member to be lifted slightly, thereby lifting the stack of can. ends out of the path of movement of the feed slide. Rotation of the liftin member 135, is prevented by two guide pms 136, which are secured in the base member 132,

-and extend through ears 137, formed on the liftingmember 135. Compression springs 138, interposed between nuts 139, threaded on the upper ends of the pins 136 and the ears 137, act to depress the lifting member- 135, whenever the cam block is turned to bring its oblique end into parallel relation With theoblque end of the lifting member. For the purposes of adjustment to accommodate long and short cans, the upper end portion 140, of the lifting member 135, is externally threaded` and an internally threaded sleeve 141, is secured upon said threaded end portion 140, and may be turned up or down thereon to position its upper end with respect to the guide member 109. In practice, the upper end of the sleeve 141, should'lie immediately above the plane of the feed slide when the lifting member is in raised position tothereby hold the stack of can ends out of the path of movement of said feed slide. It is lowered to bring the lowermost can end into the path of movement of the feed slide each time a can body is fed past, a trip arm on its way to the first seaming position as4 will be presently set forth.

Secured onv the vertically extending rock shaft 104, (see Figs. 2 and 7) is a trip arm 142, which projects into the path of travel of the can bodies between the guide rails 52, 53. The trip arm may have a roller 143, secured upon its free end if so desired. Below the table 36, an arm 144, is secured to the rock shaft 104, which arm 144, is connected to an arm 145, on the can end lifting rock shaft 133, by a link 146. rl`he arrangement is such that when a can body moves past the trip arm 142, it swings it to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby swinging the arms' 144, 145, to the left, and turning the cam block 134, into position with its oblique cam face parallel with the cam face of the lifting member 135, whereupon the springs 138, force the lifting member down, thus permitting the lowermost can end to rest on the bottom of the grooves of the guide member 109, 'in front of the feed slide, which is then ready tofeed the can @d forward to the can bodyat the first seaming position. spring 144x securedv to the arm 144 and to the table 36 acts to return the arm 144 and` parts connected thereto to normal position, immediately after can body has passed the trip arm 142. l

lt is to be observed that although the feed body of the plunger and of inverted cup-like f slide is reciprocated each time a can body conveyer finger travels through the vguldeway between the'guide rails 52, 53, 1f for any reason no can is conveyedby it past the trip arm 142, the stack of can ends will remain in their raised position, and no can end will be fed forward. However, each time a can body passes the trip arm, the lifting member 135, is lowered, and a can end is fed forward'to the can body. The timing may be such' that a lcan end reaches the can body just as the latter reaches the first seaming position or immediately thereafter.

The com. body lifter.

After a can body and end have been fedl to the first seaming position and locked to the turret wheel, the can body and can end are raised to the seaming rolls, and the rst seaming o eration is performed; afterward the can is owered to the table, moved to the second seaming position', raised to the. second.

seaming rolls, the second'seaming operation 'is performed, the can is again lowered to the table and finallydischarged from the -jaws of the turret wheel.

Directly under the seamin heads are can body liftmg plungers 147 ce Figs. 1, 2) which move up and down through holes in the table 36 and have stems 148, that are guided in bearings 141:9,A formed lin the bracket 76 (see also Fi 15). Preferably, each plunger head 150, lsseparate from the formation.l Interposed between the plunger bod and head of each plunger'is a block of res' ient material 151, such as rubber, to allow the plungerhead to give or yield slightly when the can is forced upward against the seamnghead. The lower end'of eachplunger is made vertically adjustable by means of an extension 152, which is in the form of.

a headed screw threaded stem that screws into Athe lower end of. the lungen stem -148. A

lock nut 153,' threale on the stem 152 and screwed up against the vlower end of the plunger stem 148, locks the parts together.

he ower end-v of the plungermay be roundledl off, if desired, as shown.

Normally the upper faces of theplungers saidl shoes 107, travel in a path coincident with the plungers, and as they pass underneath the plungers they raise them thereb lifting the cans to the-seaming rolls. Eac

shoe 107 is formed at its forward end withk an inclined or oblique cam face 154,-which engages the lower end of its associated plundies may be readily` ger stem and raises it. Back of theinclined cam face of each shoe is a straight horizontal face which supports the plunger and can in seaming position during the operation of the seaming rolls. Conveniently the plunger engaging portions of the shoes .are madeof harder materiall than the body portion, and secured thereto by screws or the like.

The shoes 107, are slidably mounted upon the gear wheel 93, to move in radial lines; as

shown, they have flanged lugs 155, upon their lower sides that slide in undercutradial grooves 156, formed in the upper face of the gear wheel 93. The purpose of making said shoes movable in radial directions, is to render them ineffective in case no can ends are fed to the can bodies, whereby a can body may not be lifted to the seaming rolls unless a can end has been supplied to it'. This mechanism is as follows:

Each shoe 107 is connected to the hub 157, of the gear wheel 93 by a toggle joint 158, (see also Figs. 8 and 9) the links 159, 160, of which are provided with a roller 161, at the point of pivotal connection with each other. Under normal working conditions,

links of the toggle joint lie in straight linesv holding `the shoes at their outer or working posltlons. -When, however, a can end is not 'fed to a can body the toggle joint for the shoe which is to lift .that can is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8, whereby the shoe is'moved toward the middle of the gear wheel 93, out of its normal path in, which it wouldengage and raise the plunger.

. The toggle breaking means willnow be described. Pivotally supported, on a lug 162, (see Figs. 5,6 and 10) which projects.

down fromthetable, is 'a toggle tripping arm r163, the free end of which normally lies inthe path of movement 'of the toggle jolnt rollers 161, around the axis of the gear 'wheel 93.! When the arm 163, is in such position, `a toggle joint roller, uponvreachlng the arm 1 63, will strike the end ofthe arm' 163, which arrests movement of the roller 161and the continued rotation of the i gear wheel 93, will cause the links 159, 160, to be swung vtoward each 'other until the roller 161' is deiiected far enough to pass the end of the arm 163.' The result is that the'shoe connected'to'such toggle oint is drawn back to the position seen in igs. 6, and 8, out of its normal path where it would otherwise engage and raise the plunger at the` first seaming station. The arm 163, is

however, moved out of the path of the' oncoming roller 161, each time a can end is fed to the can body. Extending into the ath of travel of the can ends from the stac to the first seaming position, is a finger 164 (see Figs. 3, 24, 27 and 28) which, as shown, is .guided in one side of the guide member 109, to move transversely thereof. Said finger 164, is adjustably but fxedly secured to -an arm 165, fast on the upper end of a rock shaft 166, which extends down through the table, and is journaled therein, and has secured upon its lower end an-arm 167, which is connected to the toggle tripping arm 163, by a link 168. In operation, when a can end (see Fig. 25) is moved past the linger 164, as shown in dotted lines in said ligure, the nger is pushed back out of the path of the can. end, the toggle tripping arm 163, 1s thereby swung out of the path of the roller 161, permitting the shoe to continue in 1ts normal path. A coiled tension sprlng 169, secured to a support 170, carried by the table, and connected to the arm 167, acts to hold the toggle tripping arm. in active posltion, and a stop 171, limits the movement of the arms 167, 163, and positions the toggle tri ping arm in the kpath of the rollers 161.

fter a toggle joint has been fold'ed, it 1s again straightened before the shoe reaches a first seaming position. As shown, the means for accomplishing this result comprises a toggle straightening arm 172, one for each toggle joint, which is pivotally supported on the hub 157, of the gear wheel 93, above the link 160, of the toggle joint. Each link 160, has a segmental rack 173, -wh1ch meshes with a segmental rack 174, n the arm 172, associated with it, and each arm 172, extends over the roller 161, and has a roller '17 5, journaled on -its upper side: Secured to and projecting down from the table is a cam 17 6which lies in the path of movement of the rollers 175, when the toggle links are folded back, and as a roller 175,

passes the cam 176, it is swung outwardv thereby swinging the link 160,'of the toggle joint outward and straightening the jolnt, thus restoring the shoe 107 back to normal active position. It is to be understood that if the toggle joint has not been acted' on by the toggle tripping arm 163, the roller 17 5, passes by the cam 17 6, unaffected by' 1t. The gear wheel 93, receives its motion from a pinion 177, on the conveyer drivlng gear wheel 56, and is continuously rotated thereby, the timing being such that immediately after a ,can body has been placed on a plunger, and a can end fed to it, a shoe is in position -to raise the plunger; simultaneously at the second seammg posltion, a shoe is ready to raise the plunger at said second seeming position;-

The seam/ng mechanism. Y Directly abovef'the turretwheel 70, the

main drive shaft 40, is stepped down to pro- Videla shoulder upon which 'rests a collar 178 (see Fig. 1) which supports the spider 112. Said spider has arms 179, at the outer ends of which are bosses 180, in which the shafts of the seaming heads are journaled.

ends of certain of the seaming head shafts are journaled. The uppeii` spider is formed with the bearing member 44, in which the upper end of the main drive shaft is journaled and said bearing member is externally screw threaded, and has an adjustment wheel 183, threaded upon it, which wheel rests upon the hood 45, and supports the spider 181, and parts carried thereby. A lock nut 184, threaded on4 the member 44,l above the adjustment'wheel locks the parts in adjusted position. The drive shaft 40, ispr'ovided with a thrust bearing 185, above the member 44,.which sustains the shaft 44. The adjustment wheel 183, may be turned to raise and lower the drive shaft 40, spiders 112, 181, and seaming heads to accommodate the seaming rolls to long and short can bodies. .Set screws 1861, threaded in the hood and bearing on the upper spider 181, act in conjunction with the adjustment wheel 183, to hold the spider in position.

'The seeming heads.

and left screw threaded pins 188, threaded in ears 189, formed on the yoke-like members 187: Set nuts 190, threaded on the outer ends of the pins 188, bear against the ears 189, and lock the ins in place. Secured on'the'frame 186, 1s a head block 191, the outer side edges of which are channeled to receive the side bars of the yoke-like frame members 187. Notched lugs A192, .project from the sides of the head block 191, between the ears 189, of the frame members, and annular flanges 193, on the screw threaded pins 188 enter said notches and centralize the head block with respect to the frame 186. The ends ofthe head block are forked to receive slide blocks 194, which carry eccentric pins 195, for the seaming rolls 196. rlhe'side edges of the slide blocks are channeled to receive ribs 197, formed on the inner or opposing faces of the forks of the head block v191. Said slide blocks are capable of adjustment toward or away from the center of the head block to accommodate can ends of large and small diameter. Blocks of rubber or other 'resilient material 198, are interposed between the end bars of the yokelike frame members and slide blocks, which allow for slight outward movement of the slide blocks and seaming rolls in passing the screws in the reverse direction the frames 186 are moved apart thereby permitting the slide blocks to separate to accommodate cans of larger diameters.

The head block 191 is secured to a tubular head rotating shaft 199, and is supported thereby. Conveniently thev shaft 199, may be screwed into'the central or hubv portion 200, of the head block. Said tubular shaft 199, extends up through the b oss 180 of the spider 112, and has a head rotating pinion 201, keyed upon its upper end, which` meshes with a gear wheel 202, Vkeyed on the main drive shaft, 40. Continuous rotation ofthe seaming heads is thereby imparted from the continuously rotating. drive shaft.

In addition tothe bodily rotatorial movement of the seaming rolls around the vaxis of the head, imparted to them by the rotat- -ing head, the seaming rolls have independent body rotatorial movements around the axes of the eccentric pins 195, a complete bodily `rotatorial movement'of the seamingrolls theseaming head. To accomplish this reoccurring during each seaming operation'of sult, a pinion 203, is keyed to the reduced upper end of each eccentric pin 195, which pinions mesh with idler pinions 204, that, in turn, mesh with a roll rotating pinion 205, upon a tubular shaft 206, which surrounds the lhead rotating shaft 199. The idler pinions are journaled on studs 207, carried by arms 208, that extend out from'a central hub 209, loosely mounted .on the tubular shaft 206, and links-210, connect the studs ofthe pinions 203, 204, to keep them in spaced relation in mesh with each other.

The tubular shaft 206, of the roll rotating pinion 205, extends up through theboss 180, and has a driven pinion 211, keyed to it,

which meshes with a gear wheel 212 keyed on the main drive shaft 40. The ratio between the gearing for rotating the head and for independently rotating the seaming' rolls v is such that each roll is given one complete bodily rotation around the axis of its eccen- -tric pin for each seamiug operation.l The stud pins 213, which support the seaming rolls are eccentrically disposed in the eccen-l tric pins 195, so that during each seaming operation, the rolls are bodily carried around the 'axis of the eccentric pins thereby gradually performing the voperation of curling the edges of the can body and can end.

Extending in the head rotating shaft 199,

is a tubular stem 214, which carries upon its lower end a mandrel 215, againstwhich the can ends are pressed during vthe seaming op eration, and the upper end of said stem 214,

passes up through the boss 182, of the up er spider 181, and has lock nuts 216 threa ed upon its upper end,. one of4 which bears against the upper end of the boss 182.. Wlthin the tubular stem 214, is a stem 217,

pressed in a downward direction by a coiled l compression spring 219, held under compression between the upper end of the stem 217 and a plug 220, threaded in the upper end of the tubular stem 214.

As above stated, the operative mechanismsat both sides ofthe machine are substantially alike, but in the mechanism illustrated on the` left side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 2, the ejecting lever 97 a and itsuassociated parts are located at a place beyond the yguide rails of the left side of the machine, but nevertheless between the first and second seaming positions.

In the toggle tripping mechanism at the left side of the maehine,'thelink 168a (see Fig. 5) in place of 'being connected directly to the arm 163, is connected to a vbranch 163", thereof. The jaw unlocking cam 95, and can discharging cam 96, are

ofthe same form and arrangement as those for the right side of the machine.

The timing of the operative parts of the particular structure illustrated, is as folows:

Three complete revolutions of the main i drive shaft 40, make one cycle of operation. The gear wheel 56, isl thereby turnedaround once, and the p conveyer chain moved one step. The gearwheel 93, carrying the cam shoes, is turned one uarter way around; the

Geneva ear whee is turned around once, and the eneva wheel and turret wheel turned one quarter way around arriving at its position of rest just'prior to the time the cam shoes approach the plungers; the seaming heads are turned 'around ten times and the seaming rolls `bodily turned around once on their eccentric "pins,

Operation.

In the operation of the machine, the can bodies are delivered to the conveyer chain by any suitable timing mechanism, and placed in the path of the conveyer fngersl. The finger conveys the can past the trip arm 142, and swings it back, thereby turning the cam block 134, of the can end lifter, permitting the lifting member 135 to lower the lowermost can end of the stack into the path of movement of the feed slide 110, which thereupon feeds said can' end forward until it reaches a' position in the chuck 119,

iso

i at or immediately after the conveyer finger continue in its normal path. Immediately delivered to the locking jaws, one of the' position of rest on a plunger 1n the secondafter the can body and can end have-been cams 92, engages and lifts the rod 91, thereby swinging forward the bell crank lever 9 0,

,against the jaw actuating roller 84, and

thereby turning the jaws 82, around the can lbody. The gear wheel 93, has now brought "the cam shoe 107, referred to, intol engagement with the plunger upon which the can `body is resting, and raises said plunger yto its uppermost position. The can body is thereby raised, and on its way to the seaming rolls it picks up the can end and carries it to the first seaming rolls. When the can reaches the seaming position, the seaming rolls 196, have been. spread apart by the eccentric pin contri/Vance, but during the seaming operation-the seaming rolls, in addition to revolving bodily around the can end, a number of times, revolve bodily around the axes of the eccentric pins, thereby approaching the mandrel and curlin under the edges of the can body and can en During the seaming operation, the flat hori-y zontal face of the cam shoe travels under the plunger .and holds the can in seaming position. The continued rotation of the gearwheel 93, carries the cam shoe from' beneath the plunger, whereupon it drops to normal position with its upper face flush with the table. The crank pin 78, of the Geneva gear wheel 74, thereupon enters a slot 77, in the Geneva wheel 73, and turns it quarter way around, bringing the can to a seaming position. While traveling from its firstto its second seaming position, the can engages the arm 99, of the can ejecting lever 97 and swings the end of said lever into position to engage the succeeding jaw actuating roller 84, and unlock the jaws connected to that roller, in which position it remains until a succeeding can (upon which the first seaming operating has been per formed) travels toward the lever97.v In such case, the succeeding cam shoe engages the arm 101, and swings the lever 97, back second seaming rolls, which perform the second seaming operation, and crowd the curled edges of the can body and can end tightly against the side of the can body. It is understood that ,while the second seaming o eration is being performed, another can ody and can end are being operated on by the first seaming rolls. After the second seaming operation is performed, the turret wheel 1s again given a quarter turn by the Geneva stop movement, and at the commencement of this movement the jaw actuating roller 84, at the second seaming position strikes the cam'95 and is thereby moved back, thusA retracting the jaws 82,'and releasing the finished can. The continued movement of the turret wheel brings the can into engagementv withv the discharge .cani v96,

`which deflects the can from the jaws.

Thereupon it may be discharged ifrom the machine by an suitable means.

In the descrlption of the operation itis assumed that a can `end was fed to the can body. If, however, for any reason, as forl gage and lift the plunger at the first 'seam-A Consequently, the can is notl ing position. lifted to the seaming rolls and the first seaming operation is not performed, and the can body is not spoiled. vWhen the turret is turned to bring the can to second seaming position, the jaw actuating roller of the jaws, lholding this can, meets the lever 97,

and is pushed back, thereby unlocking the jaws. The continued rotation of the turret wheel brings the can into engagement with the side of the lever 97, which defiects it from `the jaws. The continued rotation of the turret bringing the empty jaws toward the second seaming position carries .the roller 175, of' the toggle straightening arm into engagementwith the cam 176, and the cam. shoe is thereupon moved'out to normal position. vA succeedingcam shoe, which remains in its normal position, .traveling in its normal path, engages the arm 101, and swings the ejectin lever back out of position where it wou d otherwise trip the jaw actuating roller and deflect a can.

' From the above, it is quite obvious that' filled can bodies are conveyed safely to the jaws of the turret and gradually brought to a position of rest on the plunger, without any danger of spilling any of the contents; that unless a can end-is fed to the can bod, the first seam is not made, but the can ody is ejected in uninjured conditails of construction is possible withouty detion, and that in the seaming operations, the seaming rolls are gradually but firmly forced toward the mandrel thereby gradu-l ally, but regularly and evenly curling the edges and swaging them against the sides of the can bodies.

More or less variation 'of the exact departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend in the following I- claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and `desire to secure by Letters Patent: .l

1. In a can seaming machine, seaming rolls,fa can-conveyer having positively acting individual can engaging members for lconveying `cans in a rectilinear line, toward saidrolls, and a rotatorial arm movable in` an arc of a circle across the path of movement of the conveyer and arranged to enage thepsides of the can bodies, and operating simultaneously inl conjunction with said conveyer to deflect can bodies from the conv veyer in a transverse direction along a parabolical curve, starting with along radius and ending with a short radius, and deliver them into register with said seaming rolls,

- said arm being timed to come into engagement with the canswhile they are moving positively with the conveyer, Vto thereby cause a continuous, uninterrupted movement of the cans to the seaming rolls.

2. In a can seaming machine, seaming.

rection along a parabolical curve, starting with a long radius and ending with a short' radius, and deliver them into register with the seaming rolls, said arm being timed to come into engagement Awith the cans while they are moving positively with theconveyer, to thereby cause a continuous, uninterrupted movement of the cans to the seamings rolls.

3.' In a can seaming machine, seaming rolls, an endless can body conveyer for conveying can bodies toward the rolls, and a rotatorial arm arranged to engage the sides of the can bodiesand operating simultaneously with and in conjunctionwith the conveyer to transfer can bodies laterally from thel conveyer into register with the seaming -ro s. Y

4. In a canV seaming machine, an intermitten-tly rotated turret wheel having can clasping members disposed around its periphery, seaming rolls, an endless can body conveyer lfaving positively acting individual can engaging members for conveying can bodies toward theseaming rolls, and a swingingarm acting on said can bodies in 'conjunction with said conveyer to transfer can bodies to the can clasping members of the turret Wheel, Said arm being timed to come into engagement with the cans while they areA moving positively with the con-v first seaming rolls thereabove, meansV for intermittently vrotating said turret Wheel to bring the-can clasping members in succession into 4register withl said first seamingl rolls, a can body co-nveyer terminating adjacent sald rolls, and an arm moving 1n synchronism wlth said conveyer and actmg on said can bodies in conjunction therewith to.

transfer can bodies to the can clasping meml bers while they are in register with the first Vseaming rolls.

6. In a can seaming machine, first seaming rolls,an endless conveyer chain' having can body conveying fingers thereon, a rotatorial' arm having a spring pressed roller carrying member and roller for engaging and transferring 'can bodies from the chain to the first seaming rolls, said arm moving in synchronism with the fingers of the conveyer chain. v

7. In a can closing machine, a can end feed slide, a guide therefor,I means for re,- ciprocating said feed slide, a can end lifter forming the lsole support for holding a stack of can endswith the endmost can end out of the path of movement of the feed slide,

y a can body guide, a trip arm lying in the path of movement of the can bodies,` and operatlve connections between said trip 'arm and can end lifter for actuating said canend lifter to therebymove the endmost can end into the path of movement, each time a can body actuates the trip arm. 8. In a can closing machine, a can en( feed slide, a guide therefor, means for reciproeating said feed slide,'a can end lifter forming the sole support for holding a stack or can ends with the lowermost can end above the path of movement of said feed slide,a can body conveyer, and means operated by the can bodies, for actuating the can end lifter to thereby lower the stack of can ends with the lowermost one in the path of movement of the feed slide.

9. In a lcan closing machine, a can end feed slide, a guide therefor, means for reciprocating said feed slide, a can end 4lifter 

